What to Expect

Project Resource will be an intensive 3-day course attended by diocesan teams made up of a diocesan bishop and their recruited team of teachers. Larger teams are welcome and we suggest bringing the person responsible for diocesan communications, when possible. Attending teams will leave Project Resource equipped with adaptable tools and resources to teach lay leaders and clergy in their own dioceses.

Advance Preparation

Wherever you are on your journey of stewardship or fundraising, the Project Resource training will meet you where you are. However, in order to map where you are going, its important to know where you are. Your starting point.

Prior to arrival for a Project Resource training, each individual will be asked to complete a few questions that will help establish the “why” of the training and our work together.

In addition, each Bishop will be asked to complete a short development survey. These questions will be due by upon arrival at the conference. Project Resource presenters will review this information in order do adapt the training to meet the needs of diocesan teams and utilize the information during the training.

The conference was transformational for the Stewardship Team at my church. I assembled a team and talked about what I had learned from the conference. We then decided what elements we could institute in our “shortened” stewardship year as we want this to be a year round process but we were starting in June. We did ministry moments where the youth spoke about the impact the congregation’s giving has on them. Another person spoke about the fact that the congregation’s giving and our ability to support two priests, allowed his family to have one of the priest’s at a destination wedding for his daughter and the impact that had on his family. We also did a video of many of the ministries and activities that happen because the parishioners give to our church. The video was particularly impactful and brought many to tears when they thought about all that happens because people give of their time and money. This is the first time I have worked with a group that are excited about doing stewardship and doing it year round. The ideas they have for thank yous, focusing on giving (a Giving Tree at Easter instead of Christmas) and other elements has been exciting and encouraging. So thank you and those you work with, for all the time, blood, sweat and tears that go into putting on a conference like this. It is greatly appreciated. 

— Anne Peterson, Diocesan Treasurer, Diocese of Fond du Lac

Day One

The training will begin with a focus on major gifts. We begin by talking about making mission possible, about dreaming together, and defining the factors of success. We talk about framing our conversations around our "why" and incorporating these communications strategies into our donor interactions. Throughout the day, we'll dive deep into defining major gifts, constituency models, roles and responsibilities, how to make asks for major gifts, and setting goals. We'll also talk about generational characteristics of Matures, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. We'll explore strategies of reaching each generation in the context of stewardship.

Day Two

This second day will focus on annual giving. We'll talk about different types of giving and strategies for planning a successful campaign. When you break down an annual campaign to an intentional monthly calendar, the to-dos are possible! We talk about how to plan, create, launch, track, succeed, celebrate, and thank within an annual cycle. We'll also explore communications tools and creative ways to develop campaign themes that make an impact. To wrap up the day, we'll talk about challenging areas for today's leadership, ingredients for vital teams, and team development. As a team, you'll explore how to take Project Resource home to model stewardship in your own context as a diocese or team.

Day Three

The final day will focus on planned giving and the science of giving. We'll return to the "why" and how relationships and expressions of values and priorities are central to successful stewardship. We'll explore tried and true strategies of donor advised funds and endowments as well as case studies of people who are of different generations. We'll end our time together by talking about how to incorporate measurable objectives of stewardship into Bishop visitations and how to unfold Project Resource and intentional stewardship training and resources in your own diocese.